Final of the Natixis Investment Managers competition

'The Students Challenge': the sixth edition marked by the rise of artificial intelligence, a focus on private assets and a stronger international dimensionNatixis Investment Managers has wrapped up the sixth edition of its international Students Challenge competition, culminating in a final held in Paris on 22 June. This year, more than 600 students, organised into around 100 teams, entered the competition. Of the 12 teams shortlisted to compete (around 60 students), 3 advanced to the final. Held with the support of Morningstar | Sustainalytics and FactSet, this edition confirms the competition's growing reach and highlights the emerging skill set expected of the next generation of asset management professionals, particularly around artificial intelligence and private assets.An edition characterised by strong academic and international diversityLaunched in 2019, The Students Challenge is aimed at master's students and final-year undergraduates from around the world. The competition's success is confirmed year on year, with student interest remaining as strong as ever.The three finalist teams reflect this academic and international diversity: Green Folio, comprising students from Imperial College London and King's College London; Vanna Investment Managers, bringing together students from EDHEC, Centrale Supélec, Dauphine, NEOMA Business School and UC Berkeley; and Valens Capital, comprising students from NEOMA Business School and Grenoble Ecole de Management. Throughout the competition, each of the 12 participating teams was mentored by professionals from Natixis Investment Managers and its asset management companies, including Harris | Oakmark, Dorval AM, DNCA Finance, ecofi, Loomis Sayles, Mirova, Ossiam, Ostrum AM and VEGA Investment Solutions.Artificial intelligence and private assets: two major developments in this year's competitionBetween February and April 2026, the participating teams managed a $100 million multi-asset virtual portfolio under real market conditions, incorporating stringent ESG constraints as well as an equity/fixed-income allocation across the OECD universe.This sixth edition was marked by two major innovations. Firstly, the teams incorporated artificial intelligence tools throughout their process, whether for market analysis, data processing, quantitative modelling or preparing their presentations. As one of the finalist teams put it: "AI enhances the team; it doesn't make the decisions."Furthermore, the finalists developed a strategy for diversifying into private assets, to complement their portfolio of listed assets, illustrating the growing importance of this asset class in investment strategies.At the final held in Paris, the three teams presented their strategies to an international jury comprising experts from Morningstar | Sustainalytics, FactSet and Natixis Investment Managers.Green Folio wins the 2026 editionFollowing the jury's deliberations, Green Folio won the competition, ahead of Vanna Investment Managers and Valens Capital. The jury praised its ability to fully integrate ESG criteria into a rigorous financial model, balancing performance with sustainable impact.In keeping with the spirit of the competition, the winning team received a €5,000 prize funded by Natixis Investment Managers, which will also donate an equivalent amount to the charity of Green Folio's choice.Felix Hawkings, this year's winner, said: "We are delighted to have won the final. We didn't claim to have achieved the best financial performance. What undoubtedly set us apart was the time we devoted to analysing our mistakes and the lessons we learnt from them. For future portfolio managers, it may well have been this ability to question ourselves that caught the jury's attention."Christophe Lanne, Global Chief Human Resources Officer and Global Chief Operations & Transformation Officer at Natixis Investment Managers, concluded: "The Students Challenge is much more than just a competition. It reflects our belief that diverse backgrounds, an international outlook and the ability to embrace the transformations taking place in our industry are essential for preparing the next generation of asset management professionals. By incorporating the use of artificial intelligence, ESG and unlisted assets into the assessment of projects, we are guiding students towards the challenges that will shape the finance of tomorrow."Finally, the day after the final, the 17 finalists took part in a half-day of dedicated workshops. The programme included talks from staff at Natixis IM and its affiliates, a workshop on preparing for the world of work, run jointly by HR and an external consultancy, a session on LinkedIn with a specialist agency, and a professional photo shoot to showcase the participants' profiles.Beyond the competition itself, The Students Challenge therefore serves as a genuine career springboard: several former participants have since joined Natixis Investment Managers or one of its affiliated asset management companies.Registration for the next edition will open in autumn 2026.

Final of the Natixis Investment Managers competition

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